Aucoin Leads Trio of Red Raiders on All-Region Teams

Texas Tech receives three All-Region selections Thursday, its most since 2011

LUBBOCK, Texas(Texas Tech Press Release) – Texas Tech had three student-athletes – Gretchen Aucoin, Sydni Emanuel and Cassie McClure – honored Thursday on the All-Region teams that were announced by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).

Aucoin led the trio of Red Raiders as she was a first team selection as a pitcher/utility player for the central region. She was joined on the all-region teams by a pair of freshmen in Emanuel, a second team honoree, and McClure, a third team pick.

Texas Tech’s three selections to the all-region teams are its most since a school record four Red Raiders were honored in 2011. Tech had not previously had two freshmen honored on one of the three teams in school history.

The all-region teams were voted on by NFCA member coaches from each respective region. All honorees on any of the three squads are now eligible for selection to one of the three NFCA Division I All-American teams.

Aucoin will be considered against 30 other players in the pitching/utility category, including 10 who were honored on the first team. Her selection marked the fourth-straight year where a Red Raider has been named to the first team.

Aucoin, an Ocean Springs, Miss. native, wrapped her sophomore season with a 14-9 record in the circle and 2.43 ERA. She ended the regular season ranked third in the NCAA with six saves and was among the national leaders in strikeouts as well.

At the plate, Aucoin hit .287 on the year with seven home runs and 31 RBI. She began to find her groove offensively during Big 12 play, crushing five home runs while driving in 15 RBI against conference opponents alone.

Emanuel, meanwhile, was the catalyst atop the lineup for the Red Raiders all season, hitting .418 with a school record 36 stolen bases. Her batting average ranked as the second-highest in school history as the Missouri City, Texas native ended the year among the Big 12 leaders in most offensive categories.

McClure boosted the middle of the Tech lineup with her team-leading nine home runs and 44 RBI. The Kingwood, Texas native snapped the Tech single-season freshmen record for RBI as she ranked among the Big 12 leaders in the category. Her .361 batting average

All three student-athletes were previously honored this week on the All-Big 12 teams with Emanuel earning first team accolades while Aucoin and McClure were recognized on the second team.

The NFCA All-American teams are scheduled to be announced May 28 prior to the start of the Women’s College World Series held in Oklahoma City.